Rate and Interface Converters

A world of standards

Data communications standards are agreed upon, published and adhered to in order to ensure communication between equipment from different vendors. Unfortunately, multiple standards are sometimes created to serve the same purpose. For example, V.35, X.21, V.36, RS-422 and RS-530 all deal with high speed communication and have very little functional difference, but they differ in their electrical and physical characteristics. Multiple standards prevent straightforward communication and require a mediating device between different products.

Solving the problem

RAD’s wide range of converters overcomes this problem by providing conversion between different interfaces. Depending on the application, the conversion may involve one or more of the following:

• Electrical: converting the signal levels
• Physical: providing a different connector type
• Functional: converting the functional operation of the signals
• Speed: converting from one data rate to another

What is the difference between interface-powered and AC-powered converters?

Both types of converters perform the same function – providing communication between equipment with different interfaces. The interface-powered converters consume very little power. They derive power from the interface signals without loading the adjacent equipment or interfering with its normal operation. In some cases, operation without power may not comply fully with the standard. However, this should not interfere with converter operation since the interface standard specifications are defined for operation over long distances, while the interface-powered converters are placed adjacent to the equipment.

RAD’s AC-powered converters feature full compliance with all the relevant standards, and also offer more features than the interface-powered models, such as higher data rates and diagnostics.